Man dies in Zion apartment blaze

Lake County Coroner officials will have to use DNA evidence to positively identify a man who died after an early morning fire in his Zion apartment, officials said today.

The fire was reported at about 3:11 a.m. Saturday at the Park Trails Apartments, 3455 Sheridan Rd., after an automatic fire alarm was activated and neighbors called 911 to report the blaze, according to a press release by Zion Fire and Rescue Department officials.

Firefighters found heavy smoke in a lower-level apartment unit when they arrived, officials said. Residents had started to evacuate the building as firefighters arrived, officials said.

When officials entered the apartment from which the smoke was originating they found the adult male victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Lake County Corner Artis Yancey said the man's body was so badly charred that officials are requiring DNA evidence to positively identify him. An autopsy is expected today or Monday, Yancey said.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known but is under investigation by police and fire officials.

No other apartments were affected and no residents were displaced, according to the press release.

Zion officials were joined by crews from Waukegan, Beach Park, Gurnee, Newport and Winthrop Harbor.